hotsw rdpe growth programme briefingheartofswlep.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/final-full...•...

Heidi HallamPartnerships Manager

HotSW RDPE Growth Programme Briefing

Welcome • Housekeeping – fire exits, toilets and phones on silent please

• Thank you to:

– the RDPE Network for part-funding today’s event

– the Rural Payments Agency, the Heart of the South West Growth Hub and LEADER schemes for their participation in today’s event

• LEADER stand for information on this stream of RDPE funding

• All of today’s materials will be available on the ESIF page of HotSW LEP website

• #RDPEinHotSW

RDPE Growth Programme Briefing

The RDPE Growth Programme is an important source of funding to help deliver the Heart of the South West’s ambitions for growth, jobs and productivity in rural areas.

Today’s event particularly aims to:

• Raise awareness and understanding of current RDPE Growth Programme funding opportunities in the HotSW and how to apply

• Provide opportunities for Q&As, discussion and networking

PLEASE ASK US IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT SOMETHING

Agenda

• Strategic Growth Priorities in the HotSW (Paul Hickson, HotSW LEP)

• Overview of RDPE Growth Programme (Peter Bainbridge, RPA)

• RDPE Growth Programme Application Processes (Angela Quinn, RPA)

• Questions and Answers – Panel

Break

• Introduction to HotSW Growth Hub (David Hynd, HotSW Growth Hub)

• Break Out Groups

• Close and Next Steps

The Heart of the South West LEP

Repositioning the Heart of the South West’s profile and reputation, nationally and globally. Connecting people, places, businesses and ideas to transform our economy, securing investment in infrastructure and skills to create more

jobs and enable rewarding careers.

Your Local Enterprise Partnership What the LEP is not:

An agency of Government like RDA, designed as a delivery arm of central government, nor are we simply a funding body.

What the LEP is:

A local platform for collaboration across public and private sectors, to achieve mutual economic aims and we

Identify common prioritiesAttract resources & investmentMake a difference to prosperity

We support:• Funding bids to national Government e.g. Growth Deal• Influencing national Government strategy e.g. road and rail• Strategic partnerships e.g. with neighboring LEPs • Economic policy development.

Partner Database http://partner.heartofswlep.co.uk/

UK Government: Building Our Industrial Strategy

• 10 pillars identified to address drivers of productivity and spread benefits across the country

• Our Productivity Plan will in effect be the Industrial Strategy in the HotSW area

Research and innovation Developing skills

Upgrading infrastructure Supporting businesses to start & grow

Improving procurement Encouraging trade & inward investment

Delivering affordable energy & clean growth Cultivating world-leading sectors

Driving growth across the whole country Creating the right institutions to bring together

sectors & places

What we do about it - LEP area response

• Productivity Plan in development

• ‘Green Paper’ for consultation until 10th March: are we looking at the right problems?

• Led by the Devolution Partnership

• Draft Plan for consultation after County elections – May / June

• Final Plan sign off autumn – dual key Joint Committee + LEP

• Business input is IMPORTANT

Paul HicksonPlace Theme Lead

Strategic Growth Priorities in the

HotSW

HotSW Rural Growth Context

• One of the most rural LEP areas in the Country

• Distinctive natural and cultural assets

• High proportion of small businesses

• Well-established traditional rural industries

• Opportunities for rural diversification

• Challenges around resilience and productivity

European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) in HotSW

• Three strands of funding – ERDF, ESF and EAFRD

• EAFRD managed by the RPA on behalf of Defra

• National programme, with supporting local arrangements

• £15.5 million EAFRD notional allocation for rural Devon and Somerset

• HotSW ESI Funds Sub-Committee (including LEP) to advise on local growth conditions and priorities

HotSW ESIF Strategy

Sets out local context and priorities for ESIF investment in the Heart of the South West

Mission to ‘make our area the place of choice to live, work, learn, visit and invest. Achieving economic growth through more and better jobs, higher productivity and improved prosperity for all’.

Directly aligned with overarching Strategic Economic Plan for the Heart of the South West

HotSW ESIF Strategy - Priorities

5 ‘Integrated Activities’

2 of relevance to current RDPE Growth Programme funding opportunities:

Integrated Activity B – Enterprise and Competitiveness

• Rural Business Development Grants

• Food processing Grants

Integrated Activity C – Reaching New Markets

• Tourism Infrastructure Grants

Thank You

one agency

Rural Development Programme for England – January Growth Calls

Peter Bainbridge, Head of South Region

Rural Payments Agency

16

PROTECT one agency

Purpose

• Brief overview of the Rural Development Programme for England

• Grant funding available from January

• Application process and timescales

• Further information and support

17

PROTECT one agency

The Contribution of Growth programme to Rural Development

18

CAP

2014-2020

Pillar 1

sCMO Direct payments

Greening

Pillar 2 –RDPE

£456m

Countryside Stewardship

£3.1 billion

Growth

£177m

Countryside Productivity

£141m

LEADER

£138m

ERDF ESF

Structural Funds

RDP

(EAFRD)

Growth Programme

£1

77

m

PROTECT one agency

Background

• The Government has confirmed that it will guarantee funding for RDPE

Growth Programme grants if these are agreed and signed before the UK’s

departure from the EU, even if the grant agreements continue after we have

left the EU, subject to projects meeting the following conditions:

� they are good value for money

� they are in line with domestic strategic priorities

• Following the announcement on Thursday 26 January Defra has launched

RDPE calls for the following socio-economic project themes:

� Food Processing

� Business Development

� Tourism Infrastructure

• Future Growth calls for Tourism Co-operation and Broadband are currently

under consideration.

• Countryside Productivity grants are likely to follow later in 2017.

19

PROTECT one agency

How are the funds managed?

• The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) delivers the grants, working with

European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) Sub-Committees in Local

Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) areas.

• RPA’s role is to assess applications for grants, with advice from the ESIF

sub-committees.

• Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are partnerships between public

bodies and businesses. Their role is to decide local priorities for the grants –

where money should be directed to give the most benefit locally.

• The grant process is competitive. When you apply for a grant, you’re

competing with other applicants in your LEP area. RPA assesses all

applications to see how well they fit the priorities for funding and which

projects provide best value for taxpayers’ money.

20

PROTECT one agency

Lessons Learnt From Previous Calls

• Previous calls for projects applications were launched in the summer 2015.

• The numbers of applications received was lower than we would have liked.

• Wide ranging review has resulted in a number changes to deliver better

quality applications (further details in remainder of the presentation);

� Simplified applicant information – one handbook per subject area (rather

than separate info for every LEP area)

� Moved to longer application windows (12 months rather than 3 months),

with larger associated budgets available.

� Introduced a shorter (4 page) Expression or Interest (EoI) form rather

than an outline application.

� We will aim to provide a response to your EoI within 30 working days (6

weeks) from point of submission, including input from your local

European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) Sub-Committee.

21

PROTECT one agency

Overlapping LEP Areas

• Some areas of the country are part of two LEPs, and may have two grant

application calls available at the same time but with differing priorities/

support available.

• You can only apply for one source of Rural Development Programme for

England funding per project.

• Therefore, you should apply to the LEP or LEADER (more later) call which

has the ‘best fit’ between your project objectives and their identified local and

national priorities.

• If we find that you have applied to the wrong LEP call at EoI stage, we can

address this with you through the appraisal process.

22

one agency

Business Development, Food Processing and Tourism Infrastructure Calls

23

PROTECT one agency

Business Development

Who can apply?

• Small rural businesses – new or existing. That includes farmers who want to diversify into non-agricultural activity.

Who can’t apply?

• non-departmental public bodies or Crown bodies

• members of Producer Organisations under the Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme who have (or can apply) a grant for the same project through their operational programme document

• projects that are carried out only to meet a legal requirement

What are the grants for?

• To help rural businesses grow and create more jobs.

• Grant funding can help pay for (list of ineligible costs will be available in the handbook):

� constructing or improving buildings

� buying new equipment and machinery

How much money can you apply for?

• Grants can cover up to 40% of eligible costs of a project. Typically , the minimum grant is £35,000 (minimum project size of £87,500) though this will vary in some LEP areas. State aid rules limit funding to €200,000, around £170,000

24

PROTECT one agency


• Example 1 - Investing in equipment. A small rural business that makes furniture will invest in 2 new machines. This will create 2 new full-time jobs. It also means the business can use new, high-precision techniques, and so will create higher quality products. This investment will open up new markets locally, nationally and overseas.

• Example 2 - Farm diversification. A farm business plans to diversify by setting up a metal fabrication business. The business has made some gates and railings in the farm workshop, and has an agreement from a local building contractor to supply gates and railings for building developments. This will build on the skills already in the farm business, and the business will employ one new skilled person on a full-time basis.

25

PROTECT one agency


National priorities for funding - Your project is more likely to get a grant if it

achieves at least 2 of the following:

• Create jobs - Creates new, higher-skilled or higher-paid jobs. Creates at

least 1 FTE job for every £30,000 of grant funding.

• Grow your business - Demonstrates a clear future plan to grow your

business.

• Improve productivity through innovation - Introduces new techniques,

equipment or processes to a business to make it more productive.

• Open new product markets - Helps your business sell goods or services to

new customers or markets.

• Export - Helps your business access export markets.

26

PROTECT one agency


Local Priorities for Funding

Priority will be given to projects that show two or more of the following:

• Increase business productivity;

• Create higher skilled (Level 4 or above) and/or higher paid (above £24,700) full time

equivalent (FTE) jobs;

• Create new resilient and ambitious businesses with evidenced future growth potential

• Bring to the market new or improved products services;

• Implement new processes, techniques or technologies to the applicant business

• Allow entry to new markets, including export markets;

• Support may be available to projects creating buildings for rent or lease. But only

where there is clear evidence of need and demand. This includes projects such as

offices, workshops, and factories.

Minimum grant: £35,000

Maximum grant: €200,000, approximately £170,000

Total call value: £2,784,740

27

PROTECT one agency

Food Processing

Who can apply?

• Food and drink businesses that process agricultural and horticultural products.

Who can’t apply?

The following are not eligible for the grants:

• non-departmental public bodies or Crown bodies

• members of Producer Organisations under the Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme who have (or can get) a grant for the same project through their operational programme document

• projects that are carried out only to meet a legal requirement


• To help businesses grow and create new jobs.

• Grant funding can help pay for (list of ineligible costs will be available in the handbook):

� constructing or improving buildings

� buying new equipment and machinery


• A minimum of £35,000, though this will vary in some LEP areas.

• Intervention dependent on nature of activity, for example primary agricultural production (annex 1) in and out of process could be eligible for up to 40%.

28

PROTECT one agency

Food Processing

Example 1 - Meat processing. A slaughtering and processing business wants

to expand its meat cutting and packing facilities. This will allow it to meet new

orders from both the domestic and export markets for products with local

provenance. The business will produce ready to-cook consumer packs,

including whole cuts, mince and sausage. No other products and no further

processing will take place. The business will form a group of local farmers to

supply the new orders – some of these already supply the business, some are

new suppliers. These suppliers will be paid an additional 10p per kg

deadweight over the normal purchase price paid by the applicant business.

Example 2 - Milk processing. A group of farmers are setting up a business to

create a new milk processing facility. The farmers are working with a regional

retailer that is committed to developing local supply chains for the dairy

products sold in their stores. The new milk processing business has secured a

rolling 5-year deal for supply based on the cost of production and has identified

opportunities for production of yoghurt in future years.

29

PROTECT one agency

Food Processing

National priorities for funding – Your project is more likely to get a grant if it

achieves at least 2 of these;

• Create jobs - Creates at least 1 FTE job for every £30,000 of grant funding.

• Grow your business - Increases the turnover and profitability of a business.

• Benefit the supply chain - Provides direct benefits to the farmers and

growers who supply the raw materials, particularly local farmers and

growers.

• Access new markets - Helps you sell more products locally, nationally and

through exports.

• Show innovation - Introduces new techniques, equipment or processes to a

business

• Create joint ventures and partnerships - Creates new and useful links

between businesses – for example between growers and processors.

30

PROTECT one agency

Food Processing


Projects that:

• increase business productivity

• create jobs that are higher skilled – Level 4 or above and are higher paid – above

£24,700 per annum for a full time equivalent

• create new resilient food processing businesses with evidenced future growth potential

• create new or improved products

• adopt new techniques and processes

• access new markets, including export markets

• align with the Food Enterprise Zone at the Bath and West Showground in Shepton

Mallet and/or other recognised local food clusters / assets (such as Holsworthy), as

outlined in the ‘Agricultural Sciences’ chapter of the Heart of the South West Smart

Specialisation Approach and the Dartmoor and Exmoor Economic Prospectus


Maximum grant: No maximum grant amount


31

PROTECT one agency

Tourism Infrastructure

Who can apply?

• If the project is commercial and will make a profit, only small businesses and farmers who

want to diversify can apply.

• If the project won’t make a profit, a wide range of organisations can apply (including public

bodies and charities).

• Who can’t apply

• Crown bodies

• Projects that are carried out only to meet a legal requirement


• The grants will help fund the costs of capital expenditure on tourism infrastructure. The aim

is to support projects that will encourage more tourists to come, to stay longer and to spend

more money in rural areas.


• Normally, a minimum of £35,000 – though this will vary by LEP.

• Maximum grant rate for commercial projects will be 40%. Higher levels of support available

for semi-commercial (80%) and not-for-profit (100%) activity.

32

PROTECT one agency


• Example 1 - Capital investment in visitor attractions. A business is building a new visitor attraction for families. This will add to the range of attractions already in the area. It will make the area more attractive to tourists and increase the number of visitors. Because the new visitor attraction is all-weather, it will help extend the tourist season in the area – which means other tourism businesses, like restaurants and accommodation providers, will also benefit.

• Example 2 - Building new access infrastructure. The local district council is investing in paths to connect up a number of existing footpaths, cycle ways and bridleways. This will create a network of easily accessible circular routes of between 4 and 15 miles, which will make the area more attractive for walking and cycling.

• Example 3 - Extending a local museum. A local heritage museum (which is free to enter) wants to build a second viewing gallery, so it can display more of its collection. The new gallery will include a small area for a cafe. The new gallery and cafe mean that visitors will stay longer at the museum.

33

PROTECT one agency


National priorities for funding

Your project is more likely to get a grant if it achieves at least 2 of these;

• Create jobs - Creates at least 1 FTE job for every £30,000 of grant funding.

Creates skilled jobs.

• Extend the tourism season - Attracts tourists outside the usual period of

May to October

• Develop tourist attractions and infrastructure - Creates or develops

tourist attractions and infrastructure to increase the range of attractions

available locally, encourage tourists to stay longer and increase their spend.

• Collaborate - Encourages collaboration and links between local tourism

businesses.

34

PROTECT one agency



Projects that:

• Priority will be given projects that show two or more of the following:

• deliver new or enhanced high-quality visitor attractions and experiences

• extend the visitor season between October and March

• attract higher-spending visitors

• create new tourism businesses with evidenced future growth potential and ambition, in

particular

• those that can show they are resilient to economic and environmental changes

• fit with the local tourism strategy and relevant destination management plan – see link

below

• New or expanded visitor accommodation is not a priority for this call. These projects

and will only be supported where there is clear unmet market need and demand.


Maximum grant: Commercial projects - €200,000, approximately £170,000

Other projects – no maximum, subject to state aid rules


35

PROTECT one agency

LEADER Funding

• Another avenue for securing RDPE funding support is through LEADER.

• LEADER funding is delivered through 79 Local Action Groups (LAG) across England, supported by an accountable body, providing grants to enable jobs and Growth.

• LEADER funding is available for similar types of activity, but often offer support at a lower threshold – grants can be available from £2,500 upwards.

• You can not apply to LEADER and Growth funding for the same project.

• In developing your project, it may be worth considering which fund is more appropriate for you (depending on the scale and type of activity) and the LEP minimum grant thresholds in your area.

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rural-development-programme-for-england-leader-funding

36

one agency

Application Process

Angela Quinn, Area Manager

Rural Payments Agency

37

PROTECT one agency 38

PROTECT one agency

What we look for at Expression of Interest stage?

• EoI stage intended to give you a relatively quick view on whether your

proposed project;

� is eligible for RDPE funding

� if it ‘fits’ with local priorities for grant support.

• Circa 4 page form seeking key information.

• RPA will aim to provide an outcome 30 working days (circa 6 weeks) after

submission, including seeking a view on ‘strategic fit’ from your local

European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) Sub-Committee.

• EoI application forms and handbook guidance will be available from the

following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rdpe-growth-

programme

• Completed EoIs should be e-mailed to: [email protected]

39

PROTECT one agency

What we look for at Full application stage?

• If invited to the next stage, a full business case is required for the RPA to make a

funding decision on your project.

• Full application stage remains competitive – although your EoI was successful it is no

guarantee your full application will be funded.

• We will agree a submission date with you, but given the limited time available to

commit the funds, you should aim to submit your application as soon as possible.

• It can take a number of months (average of 3 months) to pull together your application.

You will be given a specific RPA point of contact to support you.

• At this point, it is expected that a project would have received;

� All required approvals (such as planning permission),

� Secured match funding,

� Can evidence the case for need/ demand, and

� Demonstrate value for money against costs (such as providing three like for like quotes for each area of expenditure).

� .

40

PROTECT one agency

What we look for at Full application stage?

41

Strategic Fit How well the project meets the national as well as the local priorities for funding.

How the project will impact on the environment.

That the project does not disadvantage anybody in terms of ethnicity, disability,

age or gender.

Value for Money How the project costs represent value for money i.e.in terms of outputs/outcomes

The amount of grant required to deliver the outcomes and outputs (E.g. Cost per

Job).

What difference grant funding will make compared to what would happen without

grant funding.

Need and

Demand

Why grant funding is required for the project.

A clearly identified market need for the project.

The impact the project has on other businesses.

Financial

Viability

How the project impacts on your existing business operations

How you will fund the project until the grant can be claimed.

How the business will benefit from the project financially.

Deliverability

and

sustainability

Whether the project will be delivered within budget and on time.

That the right skills and resources are in place to deliver the project successfully.

How the project outputs and other benefits will be monitored and recorded.

That risks to project delivery have been identified and how they will be mitigated.

PROTECT one agency

Ineligible costs (see also list in handbook)

Some examples:

• Costs of refurbishment and simple like-for-like

replacement of buildings, machinery or equipment

• Leasing contract costs – like lessor’s margin, interest

refinancing costs, overheads and insurance charges

• Costs of computers, software or printers used in general

running the business (e.g. accounts or processing orders)

• Salaries or running costs

• Developing or setting up agricultural businesses

• Costs of marketing and promotion

� Contributions in kind

42

PROTECT one agency

Projects that will not be supported

• Projects which displace existing activity in the rural area

• Where the project is to relocate a business with no net increase in economic activity or jobs;

• Where there is no demonstrable plan to increase productivity as a result of the investment

• Where the project only creates a small number of low productivity jobs and such jobs are not needed in the area

• Projects that have incurred costs before they have received a decision and grant funding agreement

43

PROTECT one agency

Top Tips

• Jobs & Growth – whole purpose of the Growth programme is to create jobs and

economic growth across rural areas, so tell us how your project will do this.

• Sell us your idea – explain clearly what your project does and how it will benefit the

economy. It is a competitive process.

• Don’t ask for full amount if you don’t need it – we will assess your application on a

competitive basis ensuring it represents value for money for the public purse. You

should only apply for the amount you need to for the project to proceed.

• Show us what the grant funding means to your project – why is it critical you

receive public money to enable it to happen.

• Do the market research – you have to be able to evidence that there is a real need/

demand for what you want to do.

44

PROTECT one agency

Further info

• All information (including the handbook for each call and EoI application form) will be available on the .gov.uk website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rdpe-growth-programme

• Please also contact the RPA if you would like to discuss your project/ would like any further advice

Rural Payments helpline : 03000 200 301

Email: [email protected]

Completed EoIs should be e-mailed to: [email protected]

45

Questions and AnswersPanel

David Hynd, Programme and Partnership Manager

www.heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk

RDPE Growth Programme Briefing

Heart of the SW Growth Hub

�A single point of access for businesses support

�Introduce you to grants, advice, events

�Extensive knowledge resources and a dedicated website

Growth Hub is…

• Free, impartial business enquiry service

• Advisers on hand to talk to you

• Workshops with delivery partners

• Factsheets on business topics

• Dedicated business support website

Business support confusion

Heart of the SW Growth Hub

1,800 business engaged since our launch in March 2016

We have introduced 350 businesses to specific schemes to meet their needs

Our website shows all business schemes & lists free or subsidised events

97% of respondents gave a rating of Very likely or Likely to recommend

Growth Hub is…

• Making referrals to over 40

business support schemes

• Signposting to 200 sources of

support and guidance

Success Story – Sweet Cumin

�Adviser Laura Daniel worked to understand the business needs

�1 to 1 business advice provided via our Growth Support Service

�Introduced to Local manufacturing Advisory Programme

“It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the business advice and support out there. The Growth

Hub offers free support, and because it’s impartial it can help me concentrate on the right

support for me and my business.”

Bini Ludlow – Sweet Cumin

• Cookery school teaching Indian and traditional

Gujarati cooking

• Diversified into frozen prepared meals

• Contacted us for help to expand the business

nationally

Support & Grants to Grow My Business

• Identify & exploit export opportunities

• Experienced International Trade Advisers

• Access to market research & information

Innovate2Succeed• For ambitious companies

• Tailored support & innovation tool

• Innovation Specialists

Local Manufacturing

Advisory Programme

• For established manufacturing SMEs

• A free business review

• Small grants for advice & capital investment


What other support is out there?

Growth Hub Factsheets &

Guidance

• Writing a Business Plan

• How to forecast cash flow

• A Guide to Planning Permission

Local Authorities Planning, Regulations & Permissions advice, BBfA &

Trading Standards, Business support pages, inward

investment, events

Gov.UK Tools and guidance for business. Generic & sector

specific information, how to guides, support finder

• Government backed Loan, not a grant!

• Borrow between £500 – £25,000

• Fixed 6% interest rate


A few tips when seeking grants…

• Grants tend to be specific and, increasingly, highly targeted

• For Business, for Communities, for People

• Who you are, where you are & what you want grant for make a difference

Check eligibility to avoid wasting your time & resources on applying

Grant availability comes and goes – you may not be in a position to wait

Have you got a Business Plan?

Is your business proposition viable? Prove it. Sales / costs / cash-flow

Be clear on your business goals & how you meet the grant criteria

Get In Touch, Stay Updated

� Telephone 03456 047 047

� Email [email protected]

� Website www.heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk

[email protected]

GROWTH HUB Questions and Answers

Break Out Groups

Groups for thematic Q & As / discussion:

• Tourism 1 & 2 – Hillersdon Room

• Business Development 1 – Langford Room

• Business Development 2 – Colebrook Room

• Food Processing – Westcott Room

Attendee list details your breakout group choice

Next Steps

• The slides will be on the LEP’s website

www.heartofswlep.co.uk

• Do you have a project / check your eligibility

• Read the rules and decide to apply or not

• Other support - speak with Growth Hub & others

Other funding - ERDF

17th March launched, application deadline13th May 17

•Enterprise Coaching - £2M Transition Area•Opening New Market Opportunities - £1.45M (both areas)

•Inward Investment - £1.35M (both areas)

Jan 2017 / rolling calls•£2M - enterprise & incubation space Transition Area

•£5M - to support the shift to a low carbon economy (both)

[email protected]

EVENT ON 30TH MARCH - BOOK ON EVENTBRITE

Close

• Please complete and hand in your evaluation form (in

delegate pack)

• Return your badge

• Check out sources of further information (delegate pack)

Thank you for attending, we hope it

was helpful and have a safe journey

hotsw rdpe growth programme briefingheartofswlep.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/final-full...•...

Documents